A role for poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in DNA methylation

Biochem Cell Biol. 2003 Jun;81(3):197-208. doi: 10.1139/o03-050.

Abstract

The aberrant DNA methylation of promoter regions of housekeeping genes leads to gene silencing. Additional epigenetic events, such as histone methylation and acetylation, also play a very important role in the definitive repression of gene expression by DNA methylation. If the aberrant DNA methylation of promoter regions is the starting or the secondary event leading to the gene silencing is still debated. Mechanisms controlling DNA methylation patterns do exist although they have not been ultimately proven. Our data suggest that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation might be part of this control mechanism. Thus an additional epigenetic modification seems to be involved in maintaining tissue and cell-type methylation patterns that when formed during embryo development, have to be rigorously conserved in adult organisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / genetics
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • CpG Islands / genetics
  • DNA Methylation* / drug effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing / drug effects
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Histones
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases